No. 529.
Mr. Wallace to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople
,
January 25, 1883.
(Received February 23.)
No. 168.]
Sir: Upon a statement of facts furnished me by Rev.
Henry C. 13wight, of this city, I have addressed a note to the minister of
foreign affairs, of which a copy is inclosed.
The wrong disclosed is of a kind not to be neglected. In my judgment the only
policy to be pursued in such cases is to see that the offenders are promptly
and vigorously pursued to some kind of punishment, if only to give notice to
the disturbing elements of the locality that somebody has an eye to the
rights and personal safety of exposed foreigners. The reply of the Porte is
also inclosed.
Very respectfully, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 168.]
Mr. Wallace to
Aarifi Pasha.
United
States Legation,
Constantinople
,
January 25,
1883.
No. 144.]
Highness: Permit me to bring the following
affair to your notice:
In May, 1882, a house in the city of Erzingan, vilayet of Erzroom, was
purchased as a residence for Rev. Mr. R. M. Cole, an American citizen in
the service of the American Board of Missions, and pending Mr. Cole’s
arrival at Erzingan it was placed in charge of Mr. Hobamus Keverkian, a
Turkish subject in the employ of Mr. Cole.
Late in the night of August 19, 1883, before Mr. Cole’s arrival, an armed
mob of about one hundred Armenians, led by some of the substantial men
of the city, made an unprovoked attack upon the house, discharging
fire-arms, using violence towards some of the inmates, and leveling to
the ground the wall of the inclosure in which the house stands.
Representations have been made to the local government by Mr. Cole, but
without as yet getting the police authorities to give any attention to
the breach of the peace. In fact, he has used all effort to obtain
justice in the case, but in vain.
That your highness will view this wrong to an inoffensive man in its
proper light I do not doubt, nor do I doubt that justice will be meted
out to the offenders. The steps to be taken are left to your highness’s
enlightened judgment.
I avail, &c.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 168.]
Aarifi Pasha to Mr.
Wallace.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Sublime Porte
,
January 27,
1883.
Sir: I received the note which your excellency
was good enough to address to me on the 25th of this month, No. 144,
relative to the complaint made by the reverend father, Mr. Cole, an
American citizen, living at Erzingan, against some Armenians.
The necessary communications were immediately sent by telegraph to the
imperial authorities of the vilayet of Erzroom. I shall not fail to
inform your excellency of their reply as soon as it is received.
I avail, &c.,
